Mastectomy Surgery at Nirunda Clinic

Many people know someone who has had to undergo a mastectomy as part of a cancer treatment and has since gone on to live a vibrant, full life.

A mastectomy is defined as the removal of the human breasts. The radical mastectomy was once dreaded as a necessary part of breast cancer treatment. However, as cancer treatments have improved along with surgical techniques, there are now many more options available to patients.

In gender reassignment surgery, a mastectomy is also seen as simply another step in the reassignment process and something considered to be a milestone for many patients.

Types of Mastectomies

We’ll look at the types of mastectomies available at Nirunda International Aesthetic Clinic in Bangkok. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, schedule a consultation with us to explore all the mastectomy options available.

Simple Total Mastectomy

A simple mastectomy removes the nipple, areola and skin of the breast, as well as the underlying breast tissue. However, it leaves the pectoral muscles, as well as some of the lymph nodes under the arms, intact.

Skin-sparing Mastectomy

This type of mastectomy is used only if the patient is also planning to have breast reconstruction surgery soon after the mastectomy. The underlying breast tissue is removed while most of the healthy skin is left.

Nipple-sparing Mastectomy

The nipple-sparing mastectomy removes the breast tissue within the envelope of skin around the breast. The procedure leaves the nipple, areola, and most of the healthy breast skin. This is another type of mastectomy used mainly on people who are planning to have breast reconstruction soon after the mastectomy. For cancer patients, the cancer must not be in the area of the nipple or the tissue directly under it.

Modified Radical Mastectomy

A modified radical mastectomy is a variation of the simple total mastectomy. The entire breast is removed in the procedure, along with the breast tissue, areola, nipple and skin. Unlike the simple total mastectomy, most of the axillary lymph nodes under the arm are removed as well.

Radical Mastectomy

The radical mastectomy removes the entire breast, all of the underarm lymph nodes, as well as the chest muscles underneath the breast. It is usually only performed these days when the breast cancer has spread to the muscles in the chest wall.

Prophylactic Mastectomy

A prophylactic mastectomy is also known as a preventative mastectomy. It removes one or both breasts in women with a family history of breast cancer. Women who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation are the most likely candidates for a prophylactic mastectomy. It can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women carrying the gene mutation by up to 90%.

Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

This is a procedure to remove the healthy breast of a woman who has contracted cancer in her other breast and has had it removed. This lessens the risk of the cancer spreading to the other breast.

Masculinizing Surgery

Masculinizing surgery is also known as top surgery or masculinizing chest surgery. It’s a mastectomy to remove the breast tissue in people undergoing gender reassignment and can also involve the placement of pectoral implants to create a male-contoured chest. Many people undergoing gender reassignment surgery feel this is an important step in their transition.

Mastectomies by Dr. Poonpitsamai

Dr. Poonpitsamai Suwajo is a talented and experienced plastic surgeon. Dr. Poonpitsamai’s educational background consists of:

• Doctor of Medicine, MD., Chulalongkorn University, 1994-1999
• F.R.C.S (Thailand) in General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Khonkaen University, 2000-2004
• Thai Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chulalongkorn University, 2007-2008

Dr. Poonpitsamai has a wealth of surgical practice and experience and is well-versed in the latest mastectomy techniques. She also has a history of practicing and lecturing at leading hospitals and medical centers in Bangkok. These medical facilities include:

• Internship: Department of Surgery, Srinakarin Hospital, 2000-2004
• Staff General Surgeon and Lecturer, Department of Surgery, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, 2005-2006
• Residency Training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand, 2007-2008
• Staff Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Lecturer, Department of Surgery, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, 2009-2011
• Staff Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Lecturer, Department of Surgery, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society
• Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, 2011-present

Visit Nirunda International Aesthetic Clinic

To learn more about your options when undergoing a needed mastectomy or exploring desired masculinization surgery, contact us to schedule a consultation.